Earlier this month, Bushmills Irish Whiskey announced their partnership with the Boston Celtics.

The deal is Bushmills’ first with an NBA team and extends through the 2023 season. Throughout the deal, they will host a series of activations, giveaways and fan experiences for Bostonians. Bushmills will also hold contest and promotions for signed memorabilia and other offerings throughout the season from their Instagram account.

To further help amplify the deal and offerings, the whiskey brand has teamed up with 10-time All-Star, NBA Champ and Finals MVP Paul Pierce.

Firmly settled into retirement life, Pierce is now providing his basketball analysis for ESPN. He doesn’t miss the grind of the NBA season, but does miss the memories and bonds he created with teammates away from the floor during his 19-year career.

I spoke with the recently named finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2021 about the deal, what the city of Boston has meant to him as well as his thoughts on the current Celtics and his NBA Finals predictions.

How has retirement life been treating you?

It’s been good. I’ve gotten the opportunity to spend more time with my wife and kids, do some TV stuff, participating in partnerships like this with Bushmills. I couldn’t ask for anything more. I had a great ride when I played. I don’t miss it at all, but I enjoy talking about it and still being kind of a part of the action.

What does it mean for you when you can be a part of partnerships like the one between the Celtics and Bushmills?

My partnership with the Celtics is a lifelong partnership and when you bring in new partnerships, like Bushmills to the Celtics, then it’s a partnership of mine also. I’m excited to have them as part of the family. It’s an iconic brand to go with an iconic franchise and one of its more iconic players. We just thought it was a great fit. This whiskey is a part of my culture in retirement now along with cigars, especially on game night with some friends. This was just a great match.

You had a chance to play with three other organizations at the end of your career. From your perspective, what makes playing for a Celtics so different?

Man, I was in Washington, Brooklyn and then the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s almost like no comparisons. You walk into Boston and it’s already filled with such a rich tradition, iconic names, iconic moments and when I went to these other franchises, they’re still trying to figure out who they are. Washington has won a championship in the 70’s, Clippers still haven’t won and Brooklyn doesn’t have a won, so it’s no tradition. It’s been so long since I had been part of something with no tradition.

I went to Kansas University that is rich in basketball tradition and it speaks for itself. James Naismith, “Phog” Allen, Danny Manning, Wilt Chamberlain. It was the Boston Celtics right after that and then to go to these other franchises, it’s a step down. Nothing against those other franchises but it really is. There’s just no comparisons.

As a kid from Inglewood, CA, you grew up rooting for the Lakers and hating the Celtics. With what you accomplished in Boston, what does that city mean to you today?

Boston will always be home for me.

When you got that call that you were a finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2021, what were you doing first and what emotions did that bring to you?

I got the announcement last week when I was on The Jump. It came as a surprise because, at the last minute, they wanted me to come in that day and I had no idea that I was going to be inducted as one of the finalist that day. It’s in the middle of the day and for it to be on the show, it was like a surreal moment. You don’t think about the Hall of Fame when you’re playing. Even as a kid, you’re not thinking you want to go to the Hall of Fame.

Most of the time, it’s ‘I want to go to the NBA’ or ‘I want to go to this college.’ To be inducted, that’s something that’s forever. When I’m long gone, my kids kids children will see that and it’s a place for me in basketball lore forever. That’s nothing they can ever take away from me and it’s an honor that I’ve brought something to the game that will never be forgotten.

You played in an era that was more physical and a lot more could be gotten away with. When you see the way the game is called now, where players can’t make an expression or gesture after a big play, does that irritate you some from a former player and fan perspective?

It’s frustrating. People need to understand that basketball is a competitive and emotional game. Some players love to express those feelings while playing and that can be hard to control.

When the NBA Finals take place, who do you have competing for that title?

Brooklyn Nets vs the Los Angeles Lakers.